ONBOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT – On Friday, Pope Francis voiced his disapproval of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s intention to deport millions of immigrants and Vice President Kamala Harris’s support for abortion rights.

While returning to Rome from Singapore, the pope expressed that failing to welcome migrants is a serious sin and equated abortion to an act of “assassination.” He encouraged U.S. Catholics to “choose the lesser evil” when casting their votes in November, although he did not provide further details.

During a press conference with journalists after a packed 12-day journey across Southeast Asia and Oceania, Francis addressed the candidates indirectly by discussing their policies and gender. Despite his criticisms of both, he emphasized the importance of voting.

The 87-year-old pontiff remarked, “Not voting is wrong. It is not acceptable. You must participate in the election.”

“You need to determine the lesser evil,” he continued. “Who is the lesser evil? That woman or that man? That is for everyone to consider and deliberate.”

With about 52 million American Catholics in the country, they are often viewed as pivotal swing voters. In key battleground regions like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, over 20% of adults identify as Catholic.

As the head of approximately 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, Francis generally approaches national elections cautiously. However, he frequently speaks out against abortion, which is against Catholic doctrine. He has also criticized Trump’s anti-immigrant comments, previously stating that Trump’s positions were “not Christian” during the 2016 campaign.

On this occasion, Francis noted that both candidates’ policies are “against life.”

He stated, “Whether it’s the one who expels migrants or the one who kills children, both are against life.”

Trump has made commitments to tighten immigration policies and deport millions of undocumented immigrants if he secures a second term. He has also indicated a willingness to establish detention centers for those without legal status.

Meanwhile, Harris has pledged to support any legislation from Congress aimed at reinstating national abortion protections, which were eliminated by the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs ruling.

During their first debate, the two candidates clashed on these topics. Current polls suggest a closely contested race, with Harris currently holding a slight lead.

Pope Francis characterized immigration as “a right,” referencing Biblical teachings that emphasize the need to care for orphans, widows, and foreigners. “Failing to welcome migrants constitutes a sin,” he asserted. “It is a serious one.”

Francis further described abortion as “the killing of a human being” and asserted that there are no justifications for it. “It is an assassination,” he stated firmly. “We must speak about these matters clearly, without ‘but’ or ‘however.’

The balancing of political issues has been a topic of conversation among U.S. bishops, who have issued similar guidance for elections since 2007-08, with recent updates.

Their latest guidance, published in November 2023, stated that the “threat of abortion” remains a “primary concern” for Catholics.